spice

any of a variety of aromatic vegetable substances, such as ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, used as flavourings

these substances collectively

2.

something that represents or introduces zest, charm, or gusto

3.

(rare) a small amount

4.

(Yorkshire, dialect) confectionery

verb (transitive)

5.

to prepare or flavour (food) with spices

6.

to introduce charm or zest into

Derived Forms

spicer, noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French espice, from Late Latin speciēs (pl) spices, from Latin speciēs (sing) kind; also associated with Late Latin spīcea (unattested) fragrant herb, from Latin spīceus having spikes of foliage; see spica

early 13c., from Old French espice, from Late Latin species (plural) "spices, goods, wares," from Latin "kind, sort" (see species). Early druggists recognized four "types" of spices: saffron, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg. Figurative sense of "slight touch or trace of something" is recorded from 1530s. Spice-cake first attested 1520s.

v.

"to season with spices," early 14c. (implied in spiced), from spice (n.).